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HRHN members call upon President Yanukovych to veto law violating rights

In their joint letter to President Viktor Yanukovych, members of the Human Rights House Network (HRHN) call upon him to veto a law adopted by the parliament on 16 January 2014 violating most fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as basic rights to associate and work for a non-governmental organisation, including the right to be a human rights defender.

Friday, 17 January 2014, by Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF)

The NGOs in their letter of 17 January 2014 condemn in the strongest terms the adoption by the Ukrainian parliament on 16 January 2014 of the law Nr 3879 introducing multiple restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as basic rights to associate and to the space of civil society in general, including by introducing “foreign agent” regulations inspired from legislation from the Russian Federation.

They call upon President Viktor Yanukovych to veto the law Nr 3879, introducing multiple restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as basic rights to associate and to the space of civil society in general, including by introducing “foreign agent” regulations.

The NGOs further call upon President Viktor Yanukovych to:

Take concrete measures aiming at stopping the use of force by police to disperse protestors, even if they occupy governmental buildings, and to publicly acknowledge the right of anybody to peacefully protest and the duty of the State security forces to protect peaceful protestors;

Immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against peaceful protestors and journalists, release and compensate all of them;

Ensure that human rights NGOs and journalists are able to monitor assemblies and report on police violence without fearing retaliation, and that human rights defenders and activists are not charged for participating in peaceful protests.

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More about the law: Complete restriction to fundamental rights in Ukraine

The Ukrainian parliament adopted a law violating most fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as basic rights to associate and work for a non-governmental organisation, including the right to be a human rights defender.

“The law adopted by the parliament does not only contain some restrictions, it is a complete restriction to fundamental rights, including the most basic right to express critical opinions, and it gives green light to authorities to use violence and oppress civil society,” says Ane Tusvik Bonde, Human Rights House Foundation’s Regional Manager for Eastern Europe and Caucasus.

About

The Human Rights House Network (HRHN) unites 90 human rights NGOs joining forces in independent Human Rights Houses in 13 countries in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and South Caucasus, East and Horn of Africa, and Western Europe. HRHN's aim is to protect, empower and support human rights defenders and their organisations locally and unite them in an international network of Human Rights Houses.